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"More than 80 naval ships and submarines - mostly American - are under Fitzgerald's command, including ships provided by France, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, Britain, Canada and Japan." US Looks to Prevent al-Qaida Escape Associated Press Last Updated: Jan. 6, 2002 at 9:54:05 p.m. ABOARD THE USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT - The United States has relied heavily on a multinational naval coalition to hunt down terrorists in Afghanistan and seal off possible escape routes, a top U.S. Navy commander said Sunday. ``It is very important to have all these countries behind us as we go through trying to rout out terrorist operations,'' said Rear Adm. Mark Fitzgerald, the USS Theodore Roosevelt battle group commander. ``The information and firepower they bring is absolutely critical ... symbolically and politically.'' In the Arabian Gulf, coalition ships had ``pretty much sealed the coast'' of Pakistan to vessels that may attempt to smuggle al-Qaida and Taliban leaders out of the region, Fitzgerald said. On Sunday, a U.S. warplane dropped a 1,000-pound, laser-guided bomb on a target inside Afghanistan, ship spokesman Lt. John Oliveira said. He gave no details of the target or its location, saying only that the strike occurred during the night. It was the first time since Thursday that an aircraft from the Roosevelt has dropped bombs, although planes have been flying sorties every day. More than 80 naval ships and submarines - mostly American - are under Fitzgerald's command, including ships provided by France, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, Britain, Canada and Japan. Also aboard the Roosevelt are French, Italian and Dutch officers who liaise between their commands and U.S. tacticians. ``Our presence is just to say we are here to stop the war against terrorism,'' said Cmdr. Philippe Goet, 37, a French F-8 pilot and liaison officer from the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier. ``The United States could do the job by themselves, but I think we have to do this job and be involved in the fight.'' European vessels are fitted with NATO communications links, unlike U.S. ships, which have their own systems and links, Goet said. Security restrictions prevented coalition partners from accessing some U.S. communications systems, he said. While running the operation, the United States did not force coalition partners to follow its rules, said Fitzgerald. ``Every country maintains their national prerogative out here, they aren't told what to do,'' he said. ``We have to meld all these national concerns and use each nation's vessels and airplanes together.'' Japan, for example, has deployed a ship to fill a supply role, not to take part in military operations, Fitzgerald said. However, the French, Italian and Dutch governments have permitted their warplanes to fly missions against Taliban and al-Qaida targets inside Afghanistan. They have dropped no bombs to date, but did provide support for ground troops as well as aerial surveillance. Fitzgerald said the Roosevelt had been at sea since Sept. 19, a 100-plus-day deployment that has put the ship and its 5,500-strong crew under extreme pressure, so ``the support from other nations' forces has been vital.'' __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send FREE video emails in Yahoo! Mail! http://promo.yahoo.com/videomail/ ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9WB2D Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
